Officials rule cops justified in shooting

August 22, 2005

CHICAGO — Police have ruled that two officers acted appropriately Friday when they shot a Chicago man who allegedly was pointing a gun at them.

The officers shot Ulysses Washup, 24, of the 6300 block of South Maplewood Avenue as he pointed a gun at them about 8:20 p.m. in the grassy median at 70th Street and Stony Island Avenue, police spokesman John Mirabelli said.

Washup had another gun in his other hand that was pointing toward the ground, Mirabelli said.

Washup, who was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in critical condition, was shot in the right upper thigh and right buttocks.

The incident began at a gas station at 70th and Stony Island after police stopped a van that had been speeding through an alley with its lights off, Mirabelli said.

Washup ran from the van, Mirabelli said. Police chased him until he stopped, pointed a gun at the officers and ignored commands to drop the weapons, Mirabelli said.

Mirabelli said he did not know how many times the officers fired at Washup, but he said the shooting "has been ruled within guidelines of department policy."

Washup is charged with two counts of aggravated assault on a police officer, two counts of unlawful use of a weapon by a felon and unlawful possession of a stolen firearm.